Chapter 43 - You Ready, Kid?

Leo's and Melissa's Room

Inside their room, a small celebration was going on, with close friends of Leo getting to know Melissa. Leo didn't invite the whole class since he didn't want to overwhelm Melissa.

With a portion of the student community having their heated emotions directed right at her, a friendly group was just something she needed! However, Melissa still hopes that the heat on her is just a temporary thing.

During the celebration, they got to know who Melissa was and how she met Leo. Their reactions were mixed with suspicion, wondering if the person Melissa described was even Leo.

In the Academy, Leo was a person slightly obsessed with training and loved fighting. From Melissa's story, he was a caring person who carefully looked after and trained her. Though they didn't voice it out, allowing the budding couple to explore each other... emotionally and characteristically, of course.

After the celebration, everyone called it a day. When the door to their dorm room closed, Melissa leaped to Leo's and hugged him intimately. The action startled Leo, but he embraced back without question.

"Thanks~," she said softly, melting into the embrace, making Leo support most of her weight. He carried her and went to bed, 'She's probably had a tiring day. From support inventing genius to fighter in a flash.'

In their room, he placed her down gently before removing his shirt and pants, leaving him in his sleeping short boxers. The action did make Melissa's heart skip a beat, but she soon understood what he was doing.

Like Leo, she unclasped her bra, relieving her breast from her tight bra. They were similar to sports bras, form-fitting, but were like any other ones. Although hers were clipped rather than hooked, more secure than hooks.

Her breasts and nipples were evident on her shirt, but she didn't care if they were somewhat exposed. She felt comfortable around Leo; she knew he would respect her boundaries.

Its well-developed and perfect-looking shape had Leo ogling, though. The mental fortitude to only appreciate was immense. "If Mr. David saw us sharing a bed, he'd ship you back to I-Island," Leo joked, closely bringing Melissa onto the bed. Their forms tenderly together, Leo's hands resting on her soft, thick rear.

"If Aunt Lucy saw where you're resting your hands, she'd discipline you harshly," she quipped back with a smug playful tone.

"Oh? Then should I remove them?" Giving a slight squeeze, making her breath hitch at the tease. She squirmed from the touch and buried herself in his chest.

[Owner, accelerated heart rate. Calm down to maintain a rational mind in case of emergency.]

Ignoring Nanny, she responded to Leo, "M-maybe?" She stuttered out of embarrassment and uncertainty. They'd tease further if anyone else heard that, but Leo wasn't anyone. He stopped and removed his hands.

Melissa's answer sobered his heated mind completely, 'She might be uncomfortable from the touching; better end it here than regret it. Nothing to rush.'

With the removal of his hands, it confused Melissa. "Why'd you remove your hands?" Looking at him, the mood felt like an instant switch.

"Your answer is uncertain; that is enough for me to stop. Nothing to rush," Leo said, embracing her instead before closing his eyes next.

Hearing his words, a smile formed on Melissa's lips. "I see... even I didn't know if I was unsure. But thanks for considering that." She embraced back, and a peaceful silence enveloped the two.

Minutes passed before someone spoke again.

"Leo?"

"Mhm?"

"Thanks for today," she mumbled quietly.

"Mhm."

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Months passed, and Melissa slowly but surely adapted to her new environment. The students may not have accepted her initially but gradually accepted her. Especially when the Principal reminded them that they, too, will replace Heroes in the future. Essentially pointing out how hypocritical their feelings were.

Of course, the only ones voicing out their concerns were first-years. The seniors did no such thing; they were far too busy to meddle in freshmen affairs.

Melissa gradually climbed the ranks, challenging three people per rank before attempting to rise. She did this to gather experience since you can't challenge a rank below you, but they can challenge those above them.

With the nanites' versatility and quality, everyone who fought her lost. Some students who mastered their quirks lasted longer, while others were in swift order.

But one thing remained constant. After every match, all Nanny could say was, [Target defeated,] then prepared for the next. Of course, many challenged her, attempting to beat the hot streak of Melissa.

Each fight Melissa won gave Nanny more data to base on, information that the AI uses to help Melissa predict possible actions their opponent could take. With it, she made it to Gold rank, all thanks to her nanites.

But she wasn't the only one that got good news; Leo trained the new aspect of his quirk, adaptability. Although it's minor, it was something worth working on. (Mentioned in Chapter 27)

Not only that, Leo got a growth spurt, jumping from 6'4" in height to 6'8", making him the tallest among his friends. With his massive growth in size, he had to consume much more to maintain his bulk muscles.

Another thing, when using his energy to the max on specific parts of his body or its entirety, he could form armor onto his being. But now, Leo can materialize melee weapons as well!

At first, when he tried, they would simply dissipate into energy particles, unable to keep their form. Since things being attached to his skin were easy to maintain, like the armor. Now his formed weapons can stay materialized, their look similar to his armor.

With that development, he tried recreating a fantasy weapon, chained blades or famously known as Blades of Chaos. And suffice it to say, he recreated them.

They were the perfect weapon for him when he held them. It gave him physical reach, they had weight to it, and finally... they looked cool. Any teenage kid's wet dream made into reality.

However...

Using them was a different story. The number of times Leo accidentally embedded the blades into his arms and had to be rushed to Angela for emergency healing was atrocious. Without needing to say it, they were sharp. Exceptionally so. Any bladed edge that can wound Leo's body and skin can be called a quality-made weapon.

If Leo had to compare himself to Kratos' mastery of the chained blades, he'd be called an amateur. Leo has never trained with any bladed weapons of any sort, so jumping to something complex as the chained blades was dumb on his part.

But he saw promise in them; he'd stubbornly train with them. His body can take the consequences and certainly has the strength to fully utilize its 'fantasy' potential.

They had the potential for he could manipulate it since he 'created' it. Strengthen, shorten, or explode. If someone gave him a man-made chained blade, it would break upon usage. Useless.

For now, he'd keep the chains short in length, easy to control for amateurs like him. And that's precisely what he's doing right now, going up against Eren in a sparring exercise with his chained blades.

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When you know someone can't get hurt from your attacks, you just lose all manner of control. You go heavy-handed on the attack, not caring for their life.

In these past months, Eren, too, improved his quirk. Instead of a halfling giant that has missing legs and skin, now you can't call it that. Eren can now truly call himself a giant... with skin too.

Eren could move like any person in his giant form; it improved his overall capabilities dozens of times. Moving before was a chore for Eren; now, with legs, he thinks he can stand toe-to-toe against Leo.

And here, the two were duking it out. Leo with his chained blades against Eren in his complete form.

Leo dashed at the giant, and when he neared, he rotated his body. The rotation gave guidance to the blades, its dark gold-like material reflective on the surface.

Eren, who didn't stand still, ran toward Leo's spinning frame, fearless of what the blades could do to him.

When the two neared, Eren swatted toward Leo with his tree trunk-like arms. But it didn't create the scene Eren wanted, with Leo being flung across the gym. No.

The chained blades that Leo rotated as he spun sliced through the forearm cleanly. Revolving with the blade was one of the easiest things Leo learned. You just whirl with force, and the sharpened edge would follow suit.

It is only when getting the blades to turn abruptly is when Leo faces hardship. They go out of control and end up slicing different things in his vicinity. Which is why he trains with it alone, cautious to not injure someone.

Anyway, with the forearm gone, Leo grabbed the grip of the blades and stabbed it at Eren's calves! The attacks made Eren's flesh suit bleed heavily, creating a sickening metallic smell to those not used to blood.

He made his way up the chest even with Eren thrashing around, each climb leaving a gaping stab wound. With the stabs in place, he'd be perfect for England's knife violence that still persists in the country.

Unable to remove Leo, Eren quickly dropped to the ground, using his tremendous weight on Leo. *THUD!* Successful. His slam smacked Leo against the floor with his titanic weight creating a fissure of cracks.

Not wanting to lose the advantage, Eren capitalized by landing hammer punches on the entirety of Leo. Eren's giant hand was just that massive!

Though with one arm sliced off, he can only strike with one hand at a time.

*THUD!*

*THUD!*

With each hammer fist Eren brought down on Leo, he raised his forearms to block the car-sized fist coming at him. Those attacks did a number on his guard, bruising them heavily.

"RAWWWWWWWWRRR!" Eren roared in the dominance he was feeling. This was their first rematch with his complete form, and he felt confident!

With it being close quarters and pinned under a giant, he dissipated his weapon and switched to trusty ol' hands! Ramping up his quirk, he prepared for the next attack. 'I ain't even going all out, and you're already screaming like a rabid dog.'

*THUD!*

The next did jack, and instead embedded Leo into the ground! When the fist raised up again, Leo clung to them, raising him from the ground. Then materialized his blade and sliced down upon Eren's wrists.

*SHLK!*

Blood oozed like a river, steam evaporating from the giant's wounds. Leo has long become immune to the heat of these boiling temperatures!

With no hands to grab Leo, Eren madly whipped his hand around, smacking Leo against the damaged surface. However, it was too late. Once Leo gets serious and ramps up his quirk, physical damage is not much of an option.

"You're strong, Eren," *THUD!* Smacking Leo everywhere, but the recipient of the attacks kept talking. "But you're just too big; the damage is far too spread out to really impact me!"

"Once again," enough with the playing, he flew from the wrist and blitz with his being straight for the body's center, exiting out from the back in crimson gore! "I win!"

Leo's last attack tore through Eren's giant's spine, rendering it useless. Although... Leo is once again covered in blood.

Raiden and Diana are the only people who can genuinely make him go all out. Raiden with her purple lightning and Diana with her brute strength.

While Leo would win against Diana in the end, she wouldn't allow him to win without heavy bruises.

On the other hand, Raiden's quirk was hard to go against. Lightning is lightning; Leo's advantage would be his robust defense and energy. And if the two were to chuck energy at each other, lightning would trump Leo's.

When Leo declared his win, Eren popped out of the giant's nape in its steaming defeat. Sinews of muscle still attached to Eren's face. "I'll win next time, ya hear me!?" He shouted, raising his fist in frustration.

Waving it off casually, "Wait till I'm old; maybe you'd have a chance," Leo's response annoyed Eren, causing him to groan.

As Leo made his way toward the showers while covered in blood, an announcement came for him.

[Student Leo, please make your way to the Principal's office. Thank you. *Beep~*]

'Huh, what could that be? After I shower, then.'

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Fury's Office

Fury sat in his office, gazing at his problematic student. He only had one thing to say...

"You ready, Mr. Morningstar? Cause Star is ready."

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CHEERS!

FINALLY! The internship is feckin' here! I got tired of school scenes! Our boy is about to explore the USA, let's go!